Bumble bee question

[biglongdarren]

today i spotted a lonely cold looking bumble bee sitting out in the rain so i picked her up and brought her home with me,i now have her in a container and she seems alot more alert....i made some syrup up and set it in with her but she wouldnt touch it so i lifted her and put her nose to it,what i did notice is that her proboscis is out of her mouth and folded back under her chin all the time,is this normal in a bumble bee??..i could only get her to feed when i straightened it out myself and placed it in the syrup,when i do that she eats away like mad,is she damaged in some way or just normal and being stubborn?
Darren.

 

[RoseCottage]

Darren,
I applaud your generosity of spirit and also think you may be a little bit potty!

But you are not alone. Last year my wife, her daughter and I performed a rescue in-front of dozens of people of a bombus floating in a lake. Two women holding the legs of a middle aged man with severe back ache trying to reach a wet bee and scoop her onto a stick with a sycamore leaf tied to it. I had the longest arms and so was on point for that reason only. Frankly pathetic and the onlookers must have thought we were on day release.

I cannot tell you whether the natural psychology of a bombus is stubbornness when confined and presented with food...but I love the question.

Like you I await with interest the answer...

Oh and how did you until her proboscis?

All the best,
Sam

 

[louiseww]

today i spotted a lonely cold looking bumble bee sitting out in the rain so i picked her up and brought her home with me,i now have her in a container and she seems alot more alert....i made some syrup up and set it in with her but she wouldnt touch it so i lifted her and put her nose to it,what i did notice is that her proboscis is out of her mouth and folded back under her chin all the time,is this normal in a bumble bee??..i could only get her to feed when i straightened it out myself and placed it in the syrup,when i do that she eats away like mad,is she damaged in some way or just normal and being stubborn?
Darren.

The curled proboscus is normal for one of the bumble bees that has the longest one - the common garden bumble. If she is not eating, that could be due to the cold,, wet etc.
You are not potty, Darren just a very caring individual, well done!
Louise

 

[stilllearning]

your a bloke and the bumble is female.........need i say more

 

[Chris Luck]

Depending on where you live Darren, she could be a long way from home.

Chris